Imagining a world without pesticides

After being used for decades by modern intensive agriculture, pesticides are now showing their limits. In southern Africa, a kind of pesticide-resistant caterpillar is destroying crops and crippling farmers. Independent researchers say pesticides could be dangerous for our planet and our health by causing cancer, modifying our genes or impacting on fertility.

French scientists have found that farmers could reduce their pesticide use by 30% and not see the difference. Others go even further by promoting organic farming, as well as new methods, such as agroecology. But could they feed the planet? We take a closer look in this new episode of Down to Earth.